How We Fixed a Large Dent on a Honda Ridgeline Using PDR

Dents can happen to any vehicle, but when a customer brought in their Honda Ridgeline with a particularly large dent in the door, we knew this would require some careful work. This wasn’t just a minor ding—it had pushed in a significant amount of metal, even causing the belt molding to come off. Luckily, paintless dent repair (PDR) was the ideal solution for this type of damage.

Paintless dent repair is one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to repair dents, especially when the damage hasn’t compromised the vehicle’s paint. For this Ridgeline, the dent had shifted a lot of metal but hadn’t cracked the paint. PDR allowed us to avoid costly repainting and still restore the car to its original form.

Over the years, PDR has evolved with better tools and techniques, making it possible to repair dents that were once thought to be unfixable without traditional bodywork. In fact, the size and complexity of dents that can now be repaired with PDR continue to grow. It’s faster, more affordable, and maintains the vehicle's original finish, which is a huge benefit for both the customer and the vehicle’s long-term value.

After discussing the repair options with the customer, they opted to pay for the repair out of pocket, bypassing the insurance process. This was a great decision, as PDR can typically be completed in a fraction of the time compared to a full body shop repair—and at a lower cost.

The dent on this Ridgeline was significant, so we began by carefully removing the door panel to gain better access to the damaged area. With the advanced tools we use, a large portion of the dent popped out quickly. While this isn’t always the case, sometimes we get a bit lucky and see substantial progress early in the process.

Of course, this quick fix wasn’t the end of the job. From there, we moved into the more detailed work of restoring the exact shape of the door, focusing on areas where the dent had created high and low spots in the metal. This part of the repair requires patience and precision, as we work to get the body line and creases back to their original shape.

A decade ago, many professionals in the PDR industry would have considered a dent this large nearly impossible to fix with paintless techniques. But with the development of modern PDR tools and technology, larger and more complex dents are now routine repairs for us. This means we can offer customers faster and more affordable solutions that deliver the same quality as traditional bodywork.

In the case of this Ridgeline, keeping the paint intact was a major priority. Throughout the process, we used specialized techniques to warm the metal, keeping the paint flexible and preventing it from cracking as we reshaped the door.

While PDR is a highly effective solution, it’s not always the perfect option for every dent. If the paint has already cracked or the damage is too severe, a combination of PDR and traditional bodywork might be necessary. At our shop, we handle both types of repairs, so if repainting is needed after the dent removal, we can take care of that too.

In this case, we were able to complete the entire repair using PDR alone, and the results were outstanding. The customer was thrilled with how the door looked once we were finished, and even better, the job was completed in less than a day.

For large dents like the one we encountered on this Honda Ridgeline, PDR can be a game-changer. It’s faster, less expensive, and keeps the vehicle’s original paint intact. In an industry where repairs like these are becoming more common, PDR has established itself as a must-have technique for any competitive repair shop.

The Honda Ridgeline repair is just one example of how PDR can make a massive difference in both time and cost, without sacrificing quality. If you’re dealing with a large dent and aren’t sure whether paintless dent repair is the right option for you, feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to assess your vehicle and discuss the best approach for your specific situation.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more insights and behind-the-scenes looks at how we handle repairs in our shop!